Michelle Nehoya from Namibia has spent nearly $500 (£390) on a visa application to visit Canada, but almost two years later, she still hasn’t received it. Living in Windhoek, the 38-year-old is eager to visit her aunt and cousins in Quebec, whom she hasn’t seen in almost a decade. The process required filling out numerous forms, providing six months of bank statements, an invitation letter, and a detailed travel history. Since there’s no way to apply for the visa in Namibia, she had to travel to South Africa to submit her biometric data, including fingerprints and a photo.
Her experience is common for Africans seeking to travel to Western countries. In 2022, seven out of the top ten countries with the highest visa rejection rates in the Schengen area were African, according to Henley and Partners. “It has been lengthy and frustrating. I haven’t been given any reason why it’s taken so long,” Ms. Nehoya told the BBC. In contrast, her family in Quebec, holding Canadian passports, would face no such challenges visiting Namibia, as Canadian citizens can currently enter without a visa. This will change in eight months when Namibia imposes visa requirements on citizens from countries that require Namibian passport holders to have visas, including Canada, Germany, the US, and the UK.
Namibia’s immigration ministry announced this change to ensure fairness and reciprocity in diplomatic interactions. Visitors from these countries will be able to purchase a 90-day visa for $90 upon arrival, unlike the stringent pre-approval process African passport holders endure. The British High Commissioner to Namibia, Charles Moore, acknowledged Namibia’s right to impose new regulations, noting the UK’s recent visa regime for Namibians due to a rise in asylum seekers.
Ms. Nehoya views Namibia’s visa requirement as overdue: “I think it is fair. It feels like Namibia is standing up for itself.” Social media reactions echoed her sentiments, with users calling for similar stringent requirements for visitors to Namibia. The European Union made over €53m ($58m; £45m) from rejected African visa applications in 2023, with the report attributing most rejections to doubts about applicants’ intention to return home. Visa fees for the Schengen area, the US, and the UK have also increased recently.
African travelers, even when approved for visas, often feel unwelcome at border security. Winnie Byanyima, head of UNAids and a Ugandan, highlighted this issue when she tweeted about her scrutiny at Geneva airport in 2022. Despite social media praise for Namibia’s visa initiative, the tourism industry is concerned about its impact on international travel. Tourism is a significant part of Namibia’s economy, contributing 7% to GDP in 2022, with most tourists coming from Germany and the US. However, tourism expert Soni Nrupesh believes the visa requirement will not deter visitors.
Prospective travelers like Ms. Nehoya hope for a future of easier travel reciprocity. “People come to Namibia, and they love it. But we also want to see what is happening on the other side,” she says. “It would be nice to go to Canada, the US, or the UK and just get a visa on arrival. But right now, we must plan everything so far in advance.”
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